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Logistics system to support deployed assets with over the horizon connectivity

Logistics system to support deployed assets with over the horizon connectivity description/claims

The present invention relates generally to logistic systems, and more particularly, a real-time logistics management system to gather the status of deployed platforms and stage resources to service the deployed platform at a service depot.

Current vehicle maintenance practices require operators to return the vehicle to a maintenance location (if possible) prior to beginning the maintenance process. This process normally requires oral reporting which may be entered into a database before actual maintenance activities begin. Additionally, current logistic practices for re-supplying vehicles with consumables such as fuel, oil, oxygen, and expendables such as in the case of tactical aircraft or tactical units, ordinance, chaff, flares, or other like known expendables, require manual database input and are not initiated until a vehicle returns to the servicing location. This manual process results in a time delay between the use and accounting of the consumables and expendables. This delay in turn further delays the re-supplying or servicing vehicles.

Additionally, mechanical faults experienced in the field are typically not reported until a vehicle or other unit returns from the field to its servicing depot. Once the asset has been returned from operation in the field to the servicing depot, maintenance faults and diagnostic programs may be run in order to isolate faults associated with individual components or modules within the asset. This also results in delay and slower returns to service as the asset must continue to operate with the fault until identified at the servicing depot with analysis by a diagnostic team to determine the source of the fault.

Newly fielded communication systems often provide unpredicted utility in ways never envisioned by the original planners. Long-range communication capabilities provided by emerging commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) systems have improved effectiveness of these communications. For example, in operations with forward air controllers of Special Forces, commercial SATCOM offers the potential for extended and enhanced communications with deployed assets. Current UHF radio systems allow terrain to mask low-elevation-angle, line-of-sight, direct communications with in-bound tactical aircraft. In this case, information will not be available until UHF communications are established as the tactical aircraft approach the servicing area.

Therefore, a need exists for a system and method with which to more timely coordinate the servicing of vehicles or other assets returning from a sortie or mission.

The present invention provides logistic systems to support deployed platforms that substantially address the above identified needs and others. More specifically, the present invention provides a real-time logistics management system. This system includes a reporting system located within deployed assets, an over-the-horizon (OTH) communication system, an information distribution node, and a logistics control system. The reporting system, located within deployable assets, is operable to monitor and report deployed asset status information. The OTH communication system may include deployed satellite communication (SATCOM) transceivers operable to wirelessly couple to a reporting system to SATCOM service. The OTH communication system couples to the reporting system and allows the reporting system to pass deployed asset status information to the logistics controller via the information distribution node. The logistics controller receives deployed asset status information from the information distribution node and allocates the necessary resources to service the deployed asset based on received deployed asset status information. This allocation of resources is coordinated at the service depot in communication with the logistics controller prior to the arrival of the deployed asset at the service depot. This advanced work saves valuable time and reduces the required time to service the deployed asset.

Further embodiments may allow the reporting system to receive status inquires initiated by the logistics controller or servicing activity regarding the deployed asset status information. The reporting system may then gather the requested deployed asset status information in response to the inquiry. Then, the reporting system prepares and sends a response to the status inquiry to the logistics controller via the OTH communication system and information distribution node. Status information may include information regarding the status of consumables and expendables onboard the deployed asset as well as the status and diagnostic results of asset subsystems.

The logistics controller, by analyzing the deployed asset status information, gathers and prioritizes available resources to service the deployed asset before the deployed asset evens returns to the service depot. This capability allows the service depot to stage the resources to service the deployed asset before the deployed asset returns to the service depot. This capability greatly reduces the time required to service a returning deployed asset by allowing material and manpower to be scheduled proactively prior to the arrival of the deployed asset at the service depot.

Additionally, the logistics controller may initiate the re-supply of inventory within the logistics system based on the resources utilized by the deployed asset as contained in the deployed asset status information. These deployed assets may include tactical aircraft, tactical land and naval vehicles, as well as deployed assets. This logistics system may also be applied to other enterprises utilizing fleets of vehicles which require ongoing maintenance and service. By applying the teachings of the present invention, downtimes associated with individual deployed assets are minimized while increasing the enterprise's ability to respond to demands.

Another embodiment provides a logistic management system that includes a reporting system information distribution node, an OTH communication system, a service depot, and a logistics controller whose collective functions are to facilitate the service of returning deployed assets. The information distribution node communicatively couples via the OTH communication system to reporting systems located within deployed assets. This allows an exchange deployed asset status information between the logistics management system and the deployed asset.

The logistics controller receives the deployed asset status information from the information distribution node and may analyze the deployed asset status information in order to allocate resources to service the deployed asset based upon the received deployed asset status information. A service depot services the returning deployed assets and receives instructions from the logistics controller. Receiving and analyzing deployed asset status information and allocating and staging resources to service the deployed asset occurs prior to the arrival of the deployed asset at the service depot.

These functions, which occur prior to the arrival of the returning deployed asset at the service depot, significantly reduce the turnaround time associated with servicing the deployed asset. Additionally, automated portions of the logistics system allow inventories of consumables and expendables utilized by the deployed assets to be automatically maintained at serviceable levels without delaying the return to service of the deployed asset. The logistics controller may track historical deployed asset maintenance information and provide preventative maintenance service recommendations to maintenance users that service the deployed asset.

Another embodiment provides a method to service a plurality of deployed assets. This method includes gathering deployed asset status information with the aid of an onboard reporting system communicatively coupled to the deployed asset. The onboard reporting system communicatively couples to an information distribution node via an OTH communication system. The OTH communications system may be augmented by a tactical or line-of-sight (LOS) communications system. In turn, the information distribution node communicatively couples with a logistics controller. These communicative couplings allow deployed asset status information and inquiries to be exchanged between the logistics controller and onboard reporting system via the information distribution node. By analyzing deployed asset status information, the logistics controller may allocate resources to service the deployed asset based on the received deployed asset status information from this and other deployed assets. This allocation of resources is coordinated prior to the arrival of the deployed asset at the service depot allowing necessary equipment to be staged prior to servicing the deployed asset.

Additionally, inquiries may be initiated into the status of the deployed asset with the logistics controller requesting deployed asset status information or the performance of diagnostics to begin troubleshooting asset problems before arrival. The deployed asset, via the onboard reporting system, can gather the deployed asset status information and communicate a response back to the logistics controller via the OTH communication system and information distribution node.

The present invention provides an important technical advantage by presenting enhanced two-way communication capability. Two-way communication is possible because the onboard transceiver can both send and receive data from a commercial satellite network.

Another technical advantage avoids the limitations of traditional line-of-sight communications methods. Terrains that often block low-elevation-angle line-of-sight communications can be overcome by allowing users, such as a ground unit, to relay information between tactical aircraft and logistic management activities. Because satellite communications are used, low-elevation-angles are avoided. A corollary advantage of extending communication beyond line-of-sight or over-the-horizon is that data acquisition can occur much earlier.

Yet another advantage provided by the present invention is to allow increased real-time communication while an aircraft is en-route. Servicing activities are able to communicate data in real-time. Thus, the servicing activity has an increased awareness of required maintenance and repairs for the assets. This allows logistic coordinators and servicing activities to assimilate and assess situational data and perform advanced planning.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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